Election update: Labor’s huge Medicare promises, Dutton’s blitz, and PBS vs Trump

Anthony Albanese has announced a free nationwide 24/7 health advice and after-hours GP telehealth service called 1800MEDICARE as his last big political gambit in the led up to the election.

As Coalition leader Peter Dutton prepares a nationwide blitz of marginal seats in the final week of the campaign, Labor is returning to the issue that has seen the Prime Minister’s stocks rise in the polls.

On the weekend, Labor unveiled the major new health initiative, promising a $204.5 million investment to launch 1800MEDICARE.

The Prime Minister said the new service will allow Australians to order prescriptions and receive health care over the phone.

The announcement, part of Labor's broader $8.5 billion commitment to strengthen Medicare and expand bulk billing, comes as the government seeks to improve access to urgent care, boost the number of medical professionals, and ensure that expert health advice is just a phone call away for Australians in every community.

Australians will be able to call any time to get expert health advice from a registered nurse and if your problem can’t wait for your regular GP, you will be connected to a free GP telehealth consultation.

“Life isn’t 9 to 5. With 1800MEDICARE, neither is health care,’’ Mr Albanese said, ahead of the announcement.

“Whether your family needs urgent or ongoing health care, under Labor, Medicare will be there for all Australians, in every community.”

How 1800 MEDICARE will work

Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler said the Medicare Urgent Care Clinics and 1800MEDICARE would ensure that free urgent care will be a 20-minute drive away for four in five Australians, and a phone call away for every Australian.

“When illness or injury strikes in your family, 1800MEDICARE will be there – a 24/7 health advice line and after hours GP telehealth service, backed by Medicare,’’ he said.

“Around 250,000 Australians will avoid an unnecessary trip to a hospital emergency department, because of the free urgent GP care provided by 1800MEDICARE.’’

PM makes veiled dig at Donald Trump

Without mentioning him by name, the Prime Minister also reiterated that Labor would never put Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) on the bargaining table amid a global tariff war.

“The fact that your Medicare card is green and gold is no accident,’’ Mr Albanese said in his speech on Medicare on Sunday.

“Despite opposition from the Liberals, universal and affordable access to the medicines through the PBS was an idea that survived to become one of our country’s true pillars of strength.

“Let me be clear: The PBS is not for sale. Under Labor, it is not – and never will be – on the bargaining table.

“We’re strengthening healthcare by lowering the price of medicines on the PBS to just $25.

“The lowest it has been since 2004. A vote for Labor is a vote for Medicare.”

Labor strengthens lead

According to the latest Newspoll, Anthony Albanese is on the verge of securing a second term as Prime Minister with a surprise majority.

Just a few weeks ago it was thought the PM’s only chance was a minority government.

The government’s stocks began rising as the Prime Minister announced a major overhaul of Medicare in February.

Under the plan GP visits will also be offered to the vast majority of Australians with an $8 billion investment in Medicare that the Prime Minister hopes will save families hundreds of dollars a year.

Declaring the 2025 election a referendum on Medicare, Anthony Albanese has also pledged deliver an additional 18 million free bulk billing GP visits.

The government has set an ambitious target of nine out 10 GP visits being bulk billed – that means free for the patient – by 2030.

Peter Dutton’s marginal seat blitz

Meanwhile, Peter Dutton will launch an unprecedented final week blitz across Australia insisting he still has a fighting chance of an upset victory.

News.com.au reports that Mr Dutton will traverse the entirety of Australia visiting up to 28 key seats – the majority held by Labor – in a high-energy final push.

The opposition leader is promising rallies, voter interactions and a marathon week of campaigning in the lead up to Saturday's vote.

He will kick off the final week of campaigning in Melbourne for a rally with Liberal supporters.

Some of the target seats include Hawke, Solomon, Aston, Gilmore, Moreton, Gorton, Lyons, Dunkley, Goldstein, Kooyong, Paterson, Dobell, Bennelong, Bullwinkel, Boothby, Mackellar.

---

⮚ Want more election news? Click here.